A BODYBUILDER from Dartford has been crowned best in the country and will now represent Britain in the world championships.

Super-strong Michael Goodwin, 24, of Chaucer Way, not only won the British Powerlifting Championships but also set a new world record at the finals held in Glasgow.

Having trained six times a week to become one of the country’s strongest men, Mr Goodwin will now represent the country at the World Powerlifting Championships in Boston later this year.

The school PE teacher said: “I was over the moon when I won.

“To be the best in the country is what I aimed for from the start.

“It was a very close call for first and second place as I was up against a former winner and it was the last lift that decided it.”

Across the three lifts involved in powerlifting - the squat, the bench press and the deadlift - Mr Goodwin lifted a staggering 640kg.

He set a new British bench press record in the process, smashing the previous 160kg record by 5kg, also achieving a 215kg lift in the squat and 260kg in the deadlift.

Following his victory in Glasgow, Mr Goodwin also has the opportunity to represent the country at the European Championships in Italy.

Being held in just three weeks time, the bodybuilder is uncertain whether he will be able to raise the cash he needs to travel abroad.

He added: “At the minute, I can’t afford to go as I’m saving for America.

“I might be able to raise the money somehow but I need between £300 and £350.”

News Shopper will follow Michael’s success at the European and World championships.

What is powerlifting?

Squat: standing upright, the lifter rests the barbell across the shoulders and squats down to a required depth. The challenge is then to stand up again and return to the original position.

Bench press: the lifter lies flat on his/her back on a bench and holds the barbell at arms length above the chest. The bar is then lowered until it reaches the chest and is pressed back up again.

Deadlift: the barbell starts flat on the floor and the lifter attempts to lift the weight until standing upright, with shoulders back in a straight position.